Apron laying device for livestock feeding troughs

ABSTRACT

A device for laying a concrete apron adjacent a feeding trough for livestock providing in a single operation the preparation of the surface on which the apron is laid, the excavation of a trench which serves as a footing at the outer edge of the apron, and the forming of the apron surfaces as the concrete is discharged from the device.

Matted tates Patent [1 1 Banger Oct. 15, 1974 APRON LAYING DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK FEEDING TROUGI-IS [76] Inventor: Richard E. Bunger, 5202 E.

Washington St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85034 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 406,255

[52] US. Cl. 404/105 [51] Int. Cl. 1201c 19/12 [58] Field 01 Search 404/105, 104, 83, 101,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1914 Ransome 404/105 Breeden 404/105 X 2,902,910 9/1959 Malsbury 404/105 3,130,654 4/1964 Ape1 404/105 3,330,188 7/1967 Layton 404/105 X 3,403,609 10/1968 Bradshaw 404/105 3,605,581 9/1971 Heaton 404/105 X Primary Examiner-Ni1e C. Byers, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmWarren F. B. Lindsley [57] ABSTRACT A device for laying a concrete apron adjacent a feeding trough for livestock providing in a sing1e operation the preparation of the surface on which the apron is laid, the excavation of a trench which serves as a footing at the outer edge of the apron, and the forming of the apron surfaces as the concrete is discharged from the device.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures m n mum 1 5 m4 SHEU 2 OF 4 m EHE 1 APRON LAYING DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK FEEDING TROUGHS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A recent trend in the cattle-raising industry is the extensive use of large feedlots for fattening beef cattle. Many such feedlots are simply outdoor corrals with long troughs for the animals rations, which troughs are often provided with concrete aprons on which the cattle stand as they feed. The aprons are needed to maintain a level surface on front of the trough for ease in feeding and to maintain sanitary conditions in the lot. To prevent the outer edge of the apron from being undermined as the adjacent soil is kicked by the livestock and worn or washed away, it is desirable that this edge be provided with a projection or footing extending a few inches below the surface of the ground.

Because of the number of such lots and their extensiveness, conventional methods of construction of the troughs and aprons is uneconomical and the builders of such facilities must turn to automatic equipment for their construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed, an improved apron-laying device for feedlots is provided which in a single operation prepares the ground on which the apron is laid, excavates a trench which serves as a footing at the outer edge of the apron, and forms the apron surfaces as the concrete is discharged from the device.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved device for laying concrete aprons along feeding troughs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apron laying device that does not require the use of concrete forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apron laying'device which levels the surface of the soil on which the apron is being laid.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved apron laying device which maintains a uniform alignment of the apron relative to the feeding trough. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved apron laying device which provides at the outer edge of the apron a turned-down edge which serves as a footing for the apron being laid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved apron laying device having a minimum number of moving parts.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such an improved apron laying device which provides in a single operation the leveling of the surface on which the apron is laid, the excavation of the trench for the turned-down edge, and the forming of the contours of the apron as the device is moved along the trough.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be more readily described by reference to'the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apron laying device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view partly in elevation of the apron laying device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front of the device;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apron laying device;

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the apron laying device shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a portion of the apron laying device shown in FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIGS. 1-6 disclose a portable apron laying device 10 having a frame 11 which may be ground supported or alternatively supported at one end by a pair of wheels 12 and 12' shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and at its other end and longitudinally along its frame by a ground engaging surface serving as a skid 13. As shown in FIG. 1, frame 10 is connected atone of a plurality of positions along its length by drawbars 14, 14' to a towing vehicle 15. Across the frame 11 is mounted a material hopper 16 equipped with an auger 17 driven by a hydraulic motor 18. I

The hopper is formed as a trough having a vertical wall 19 at the rear thereof and a wall 20 at the front thereof which tapers to form with wall 19 a material dispensing mouth, discharge passage or opening 21, moreclearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

As noted from FIG. 1, trough 16 is held in an upright position by a plurality of vertical supporting struts 22. Struts 22 are securely fastened at one end to a deck plate 11A of frame 11 forming a part of skid l3 and at their other ends to the peripheral edge 23 of the material receiving mouth 16A of trough 16.

As noted from FlGJl, the rear portion of the bottom surface of frame 11 is provided with a screed or guide plate 24 pivotally mounted to the bottom of vertical wall 19. A plurality of turn buckles struts 25 are positioned between the top of the outer trailing edge of screed plate 24 and the periphery 23 of the mouth 16A of trough 16 to adjustably position-the screed plate on the frame.

Since device 10 is particularly designed for laying a monolithic apron along the length of the front of the livestock feeding trough 27 shown in FIG. 1, the wheels 12, 12 are mounted on an extension of frame 11 hereinafter called an outrigger 28.

This outrigger comprises a rectangular frame portion 29 supported at one end of hopper 16 above its mouth 16A by a pair of struts 30, 30'. Extending downwardly from frame portion 29 are a pair of vertically positioned wheel supports 31, 31, to the ends of which are journaled wheels 12, 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The wheel supports are of a predetermined length so that the wheels 12, 12' when moving along the bottom of the cavity of trough 27 hold frame 11 substantially horizontally above the ground on which the apron is to be laid.

In order to guide the apron laying device along the previously formed livestock feeding trough 27, two pairs of guiding wheels 32, 32 and 33, 33 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are provided.

Guiding wheels 32, 32 are journaled at the ends of a horizontally positioned frame member 34 which is fixedly attached to the inboard end of hopper 16 so that the guiding wheels move along the outside or periphery of trough 27.

Guiding wheels 33, 33 are journaled at the free ends of struts 35, 35' which are pivotally mounted at 36, 36' to the corners of the rectangular frame portion 29 of outrigger 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The relative position of wheels 33, 33' with wheel supports 31, 31' is obtained by a pair of turnbuckles 37 only one of which is shown in FIG. 2. As turnbuckles 37 are adjusted to shorten the length of the turnbuckles, wheels 33, 33 are caused to hear more heavily against the outer edge or periphery 38 of trough 27. The range of adjustment of turnbuckles 37 should be adequate to accommodate typical variations in widths of various troughs.

It should be noted from FIG. 2 of the drawings that the outrigger structure 28 provides suitable clearance over any post or rail structure 39 mounted on the trough.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, frame 11 is provided with a trenching blade 40 mounted on the front of the frame so that it can be adjustably positioned along its length. This blade extends below the bottom surface of frame ll so that it can dig a trench below. the surface of the apron being laid to form the opening or trench 41 in the ground surface 41A for forming a footing 42 for the apron 43. As the apron laying device 10 is pulled over the ground surface 41A, blade 40 penetrates the surface of the ground and scoops up the dirt. The dirt that is scooped up by blade 40 is moved by motor driven auger 44 away from blade 40 and discharged to the side of device 10 at a distance from blade 40 as shown in FIG. I.

The towing vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a cart 45 carrying a source of power comprising a gasoline motor 46 controlling a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure 46A and a winch 47. The winch may be actuated by a separatesource of power such as a gasoline engine with suitable gearing; however, it is shown as actuated by a hydraulic motor 47A furnished'with fluid under pressure from source 46A. Winch 47 pulls the apron laying device 10 forwardly as it winds up cable 48, cable 48 being anchored at a suitable distance from winch 47 at a point along the trough 27. It should be recognized that any other suitable towing vehicle may be used such as a tractor (not shown).

In preparation for laying apron 43 with the apron laying device 10 disclosed, the surface of the soil adjacent the feeding trough 27 is first graded to the properlevel. The apron laying device 10 is thenmoved into position at one end of trough 27 with vertical guide wheels 12 and 12' adjustably positioned to rest on the bottom of the cavity of the trough with inside guide wheels 32 and 32 bearing against the outside surface 49 of trough 27 and with the outer horizontal guide wheels 33 and 33 bearing against the outer surface 38 of trough 27. Turnbuckles 37 are then adjusted to provide the desired bearing pressure between the horizontal guide wheels 33 and 33' and the outer surface 38 of trough 27. The proper adjustment of turnbuckles 37 will allow horizontal guide wheels 32, 32 and 33, 33 to maintain the desired horizontal position of the apron laying device 10 relative to trough 27 while the vertical guide wheels 12 and 12 serve in a like manner to maintain the desired vertical elevation of the apron laying device.

When the apron laying device 10 has thus been positioned at one end of trough 27, winch cable 48 is played out and its end secured to a dead man or other fixed structure (not shown) at the other end of trough 27. The under surface of frame 11 forming a skid will now be resting on the graded surface of the soil adjacent trough 27 on which the concrete apron is to be laid. The height of the trailing edge of screed plate 24 is then adjusted by means of turnbuckle struts 25 to the desired height of the top surface of the concrete apron 43 that is to be laid. Material hopper 16 is then filled with concrete and the apron laying operation is ready to begin with the starting of the gasoline powered hydraulic power source 46.

When hydraulic motor 46 is energized, winch 47 may be actuated to wind up cable 48 thereon. The cable laying device 10 then begins moving slowly alongside trough 27. Simultaneously, concrete auger 17, turned by motor 18, powered by hydraulic power source 46A, provides the necessary agitation of the concrete mixture within hopper 16 while at the same time aiding in its distribution along the length of the hopper.

As the'apron laying device 10 moves forward, the forward edge of blade 40 cuts its way into the soil and ploughs out a rectangular trench 41. The soil removed flows toward the rear of the U-shaped channel 50 comprising a part of the trench cutter blade 40 and is guided into soil removing auger 44 which is turned by hydraulic motor 51, also powered by source 46A. Auger 44 carries the soil out toward the end of the apron laying device 10 and deposits it on the ground where it will not interfere with the operation of the equipment.

For a clearer description of the trench cutting operation, specific reference is made to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the graded surface on which the apron is being laid is shown by line 53. As the leading edge of blade 40 cuts through the soil, the soil thus removed takes the path of the arrow 54, flowing up a ramp formed by a sloping plate 55 of the blade 40, which is located inside U- shaped channel 50 into auger 44. The channel 50 extends toward the rear of the apron laying device 10 only a short distance with its trailing edge 56 lying just forward of auger 44. The bottom surface 57 of channel 50 rides on the bottom surface 52 of the trench.

In order to adjustably position the footing at the edge of the apron being laid by device 10 for aprons of varying widths, a screed board 61 shown in FIG. 1 is adjustably positioned within trough 16 to correspond with the position of blade 40. The inner vertical surface of screed board 61 is coplanar with the outer vertical surface of U-shaped trench cutting channel blade 40.

The position of the trench cutter and screed board 61 is adjustable in terms of its distance from the feed trough 27. It is thus possible by means of this adjustment to provide different widths of the concrete apron.

Arrow 58 in FIG. 5 shows the flow of the concrete from hopper 16 through the opening 21 to form the apron proper. A small portion of the flow fills the trench formed by blade 40. Screed plate 24 smooths the top surface of the concrete. Optimum results in terms of this function are obtained through adjustment of turnbuckle 25, which controls the pressure of screed plate 24 against the surface of the concrete.

Frame 11 serves as a mounting platform for the entire structure of the apron laying device and comprises basically a flat plate forming skid 13 with a turned-up leading edge. The flat plate forming skid 13 extends the full length of the hopper in a direction perpendicular to trough 27 and it extends from its leading edge back to the leading edge of opening 21 of hopper 16. In addition toits function as a platform and mounting structure, frame 11 also smooths out irregularities in the graded surface and pushes loose rocks down into the soil.

As the apron laying device 10 moves slowly along the length of the feeding trough, hopper 16 is supplied with concrete of the proper mixture and moisture content from a ready-mix truck. One or two men standing on the screed plate 24 will be able to insure proper loading and distribution of material in hopper 16 by controlling the position of the spout from the ready-mix truck; It is quite apparent, however, that very little additional manual activity or supervision is required.

It was pointed out that the apron laying device 10 is normally moved forward by winch 47. If desired, however, a tractor with a very low speed capability may be employed instead.

In the foregoing description it was pointed out that the concrete auger l7, soil removing auger 44 and winch 47 are all driven by hydraulic motors 18, 51 and 46, respectively. The very significant advantage realized through the use of such a power system is that it permits the distribution of motive power from a central hydraulic power source 46A without the use of belts, pulleys, chains or other moving parts, all of which are replaced by simple hydraulic lines. The gasoline powered hydraulic power source is also independent of the availability of electricity at the site. The invention herein disclosed thus provides an automatic device for the laying of a concrete apron adjacent a concrete feeding trough. The apron laying device provides in a single operation the leveling of the surface upon which the apron is laid, the excavation of a trench for a footing at or near the outer edge of the apron, and the forming of the contours of the apron surfaces as the concrete mixture is discharged. The very limited need for manual labor or supervision in the operation of the device permits the forming of such concrete aprons at relatively low cost and the very limited number of mov ing parts insures low maintenance and trouble-free operation.

While wheels 12, 12' are shown as aiding in guiding device 10 along the trough, they are not required since the two pairs of guiding wheels 32, 32' and 33, 33 can be adequate in performing the guiding function.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A concrete slab lying machine comprising a combination:

a frame,

at least one pair of wheels journaled on one end of said frame for positioning said frame relative to a 6 fixed-object along which said slab is to be laid for aiding in moving said frame along said object,

a skid mounted on said frame for supporting said frame as it moves across the surface of the ground,

a hopper mounted on said frame for receiving aggregate and for discharging said aggregate out of an opening laterally across the surface of the ground being traversed by the machine,

a deck plate forming a part of said frame arranged longitudinally of the bottom surface of said skid and in front of said hopper in the direction of movement of the machine, and

means mounted on said deck plate for penetrating below said skid for forming a trench below the surface of the ground as the machine is moved for forming a footing integral with the apron being laid by the machine. v

2. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means is adjustably mounted on said deck plate for positioning along the longitudinal axis of said frame.

3. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said deck plate is coplanarly arranged with the bottom surface of said skid.

4. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

two pairs of wheels are spacedly journaled on one end of said frame for positioning said frame relative to the fixed object for aiding in moving the frame along the object.

5. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means is adjustably mounted for positioning along the leading edge of said deck' plate.

6. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means penetrates below said skid in the direction of movement of the machine.

7. The concrete slab lying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means penetrates below and in front of said skid in the direction of movement of the machine.

8. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

at least a secondary wheel adjustably mounted on said frame for vertical positioning in a livestock feeding trough comprising the fixed object for rotative movement within and longitudinally of its feeding cavity for aiding in guiding the machine along the trough.

9. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the fixed object comprises a trough, and

one wheel of said pair of wheels journaled on said one end of said frame engages the outside periphery of one side of the trough while the other wheel engages the other side of the trough for guiding the machine along the trough. I

10. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

a pivotally mounted screed plate arranged longitudinally of said frame adjacent the trailing edge of said hopper for controlling the thickness and finish of the slab being laid by the machine.

11. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

a screed plate mounted on said machine for adjustably controlling the length of the opening of said hopper to thereby position the trench formed by said means at the edge of the apron being laid by the machine.

12. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

means mounted on said frame for moving the plowed up soil by said means laterally of the machine.

l3. A concrete slab laying machine comprising in combination:

a frame,

a first pair of wheels journaled on one end of said frame for vertically positioning said frame relative to the cavity of a livestock feeding trough and arranged for rotative movement within and longitudinally of its feeding cavity,

a skid mounted on and supporting said frame substantially perpendicular to the trough as the machine moves across the surface of the ground alongside the trough,

a hopper mounted on said frame for receiving aggregate and for discharging said aggregate out of an opening laterally across the surface of the ground being traversed by the machine,

a deck plate forming a part of said frame longitudinally of and in front of said hopper on said frame in the direction of movement of the machine,

second and third pairs of wheels journaled on said one end of said frame laterally of said first pair of wheels, one from each pair engaging the outside periphery of a different longitudinal side of the trough for guiding the machine along the trough,

a first screed plate pivotally mounted on said frame longitudinally thereof adjacent the trailing edge of said hopper in the direction of movement of the machine for controlling the thickness of the slab being laid by the machine,

a second screed plate adjustably mounted within said hopper for controlling the length of the opening of said hopper to thereby provide an apron of a predetermined width, and

transporting means mounted on said frame for moving the soil plowed up by said means away from the machine laterally of its movement.

14. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 13 in further combination with:

an auger mounted in said hopper for moving the aggregate along the length of said hopper. 

1. A concrete slab lying machine comprising a combination: a frame, at least one pair of wheels journaled on one end of said frame for positioning said frame relative to a fixed object along which said slab is to be laid for aiding in moving said frame along said object, a skid mounted on said frame for supporting said frame as it moves across the surface of the ground, a hopper mounted on said frame for receiving aggregate and for discharging said aggregate out of an opening laterally across the surface of the ground being traversed by the machine, a deck plate forming a part of said frame arranged longitudinally of the bottom surface of said skid and in front of said hopper in the direction of movement of the machine, and means mounted on said deck plate for penetrating below said skid for forming a trench below the surface of the ground as the machine is moved for forming a footing integral with the apron being laid by the machine.
 2. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means is adjustably mounted on said deck plate for positioning along the longitudinal axis of said frame.
 3. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: said deck plate is coplanarly arranged with the bottom surface of said skid.
 4. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: two pairs of wheels are spacedly journaled on one end of said frame for positioning said frame relative to the fixed object for aiding in moving the frame along the object.
 5. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means is adjustably mounted for positioning along the leading edge of said deck plate.
 6. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means penetrates below said skid in the direction of movement of the machine.
 7. The concrete slab lying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means penetrates below and in front of said skid in the direction of movement of the machine.
 8. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with: at least a secondary wheel adjustably mounted on said frame for vertical positioning in a livestock feeding trough comprising the fixed object for rotative movement within and longitudinally of its feeding cavity for aiding in guiding the machine along the trough.
 9. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 wherein: the fixed object comprises a trough, and one wheel of said pair of wheels journaled on said one end of said frame engages the outside periphery of one side of the trough while the other wheel engages the other side of the trough for guiding the machine along the trough.
 10. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with: a pivotaLly mounted screed plate arranged longitudinally of said frame adjacent the trailing edge of said hopper for controlling the thickness and finish of the slab being laid by the machine.
 11. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with: a screed plate mounted on said machine for adjustably controlling the length of the opening of said hopper to thereby position the trench formed by said means at the edge of the apron being laid by the machine.
 12. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 1 in further combination with: means mounted on said frame for moving the plowed up soil by said means laterally of the machine.
 13. A concrete slab laying machine comprising in combination: a frame, a first pair of wheels journaled on one end of said frame for vertically positioning said frame relative to the cavity of a livestock feeding trough and arranged for rotative movement within and longitudinally of its feeding cavity, a skid mounted on and supporting said frame substantially perpendicular to the trough as the machine moves across the surface of the ground alongside the trough, a hopper mounted on said frame for receiving aggregate and for discharging said aggregate out of an opening laterally across the surface of the ground being traversed by the machine, a deck plate forming a part of said frame longitudinally of and in front of said hopper on said frame in the direction of movement of the machine, second and third pairs of wheels journaled on said one end of said frame laterally of said first pair of wheels, one from each pair engaging the outside periphery of a different longitudinal side of the trough for guiding the machine along the trough, a first screed plate pivotally mounted on said frame longitudinally thereof adjacent the trailing edge of said hopper in the direction of movement of the machine for controlling the thickness of the slab being laid by the machine, a second screed plate adjustably mounted within said hopper for controlling the length of the opening of said hopper to thereby provide an apron of a predetermined width, and transporting means mounted on said frame for moving the soil plowed up by said means away from the machine laterally of its movement.
 14. The concrete slab laying machine set forth in claim 13 in further combination with: an auger mounted in said hopper for moving the aggregate along the length of said hopper. 